Aphmau and Aaron decided to head back to the Deli to tell Vylad and Katleyn the news. When they all made it to the living room of the upstairs apartment, they dumped their story out and Dr. Vick's intentions.

"Oh my Irene that's horrible,", Katelyn uttered out after hearing had happened. "Can they even do that?"

"Since Dr. Vick is the director of the project, unfortunately he can,", Aaron let out a breath, lost for words himself.

"How could they treat him like that?", Vylad asked. "I know this Garroth dude is a merman but, still. He's human at the top. So how can they look at him and still feel no guilt for what they're doing?"

"I don't know,", Aphmau admitted, secretly knowing it was because they were all monsters.

The group continued to discuss, not really getting anywhere with it. They kept complaining and asking why. This set the blue-haired girl off, saying with urgency in her voice; "Look. We shouldn't sit around moping about it. Let's try to figure something out."

"We could try and sneak in,", Aaron suggested, looking over to Aphmau who tapped her chin.

"Okay...but how do we carry him out being undetected? He's heavy and there's no way we could get him through unnoticed,", Aphmau brought up. Vylad then added; "We could do it at night...but that does leave security cameras...and it doesn't help with the weight."

"And possible dehydration since he's being dragged and put into a car. That all could take up to an hour,", Katelyn said, combing back her hair. "I'm completely lost on this one guys..."

"How are we going to get Garroth out of there?", Aphmau asked, not to anyone specifically. Just anyone who had an answer. "Irene...Aaron, I'm just scared to leave him there just for one night."

"Me too Aph...but, we have to stay hopeful,", Aaron frowned, rubbing her back.

There was a small silence before a quiet, shaking voice asked out; "Did you say Garroth?"

The group turned from the couch and chairs to see Zianna standing at the front door. She had groceries in her hand and it wasn't long before Jay popped into the door.

"Hey ya'll!", He cheered as he walked through. "Guess what! It's pizza Friday because every Friday calls for a celebration!"

He didn't read the room until he set his groceries down. He looked at his wife and knew something was up, asking; "Hunny, what's wrong?"

"Aphmau...did you say Garroth?", Zianna only asked again, not making eye contact with Jay but, the minute he heard the name too, he froze.

Confused, Aphmau stuttered out; "Y-Yes...it's the merman I was studying."

Zianna didn't say a word but, looked over to Jay who was now just as pale as her. "Do you think it's...?", He trailed off.

"Mom? Dad? What's wrong?", Vylad asked, mild fear growing in his tone.

"I mean, it has to be. Who else names their kid Garroth?", Zianna muttered out, walking up to Jay, leaning against the island counter.

"Zianna?", Aphmau asked, getting out of her chair. "Please, tell me what's going on."

Zianna looked at Aphmau and then the floor, debating on what to and what not to say. She planned for it to come at different circumstances. But, the name was all to important. She couldn't risk it...she luckily was prepare. She ran upstairs, leaving the small group to wonder what in the world was going on.

"Dad?", Vylad asked again, to which he got no answer.

Zianna came rushing back downstairs with a bottle in hand. It was glowing a bright pink, swirling around as she took her steps. She stood in front of the group and said; "I have a confession to make for all of you. I wanted to tell Vylad first but...it seems as though that those plans must be changed."

She set the bottle down on the table, scaring the others, thinking it might explode. The older woman then sat next to her son on the couch, Katelyn on the other side of her. Aaron and Aphmau stayed in their seats, glued in now of what could possibly be wrong.

"Pea,", Zianna said sweetly, taking her son's hand. "I've wanted to be honest with you for so long but, I didn't know how you would react to this. Your father and I wanted to wait until...well..."

"Our death beds,", Jay awkwardly chuckled, still preparing dinner because he didn't know what else to do. That only scared the young man more into what could possibly be wrong.

"Pea...You see...I had a different life before I met your father. I was married and had two other children,", She started, already blowing the group's mind. She didn't let them speak yet, continuing to explain; "I had to leave, unfortunately because, there was too much negativity in that marriage. But, I found your father and everything became clear. Each day though...I think about those two boys and my heart..."

Tears welded up in her eyes, her trying to wipe them away before they even had a chance to fall. Vylad was crushed as well. If this man was abusive, why didn't she take them with her? He felt...guilt all of sudden and he asked; "Mom...why couldn't you go back and get them?"

She took a deep breath and looked to Jay for reassurance, who just nodded at her to continue. She gripped her son's hand tightly saying; "They...They live under the sea. I was a different species and so were they."

Aphmau's eyes widen as it hit her; "You were...a mermaid?"

"Yes,", Zianna stated, looking right into her eyes. "And Garroth...I think is my son. My oldest son..."

She finally let go of Vylad's hand, who hadn't said a word yet, and buried her face into her hands. "My poor baby...what are they doing to him?"

"Zianna,", Aphmau said, getting out of her chair, kneeling down in front of her; "are you sure that you're telling the truth?"

"Y-Yes...please Aphmau...tell me about him..."

Aphmau looked at Aaron, who was speechless so he wasn't much help. So, she just told her.

"He has...sandy blonde hair. Though it's always wet so I can't tell how blonde it is. He also has blue eyes-"

"Like the ocean?"

Aphmau, biting her lip, knowing that she had made the same recollection before, nodded. Zianna smiled in a way, as if she was excited and relieved to know that. But, then the fear struck her again. She looked back at her husband and said, tears finally falling; "It's him."

Jay gulped and stopped what he was doing as he said; "Then what are we doing here? Let's go get him!"

"W-Wait...I would still like to stay on the Mom being a mermaid thing for a bit,", Vylad erupted, raising a finger.

Zianna caressed her son's cheek, saying; "I'll tell you everything you want to know but, right now, we need to save your brother."

"Also that. Would like to talk about brother thing."

Zianna ignored him, turning back to Aphmau and Aaron asking; "How do we get in tonight?"

Aaron finally spoke up, still shaken by the news saying; "W-Well...there is a back way. We could also shut the cameras off from there too but, it's harder to get there undetected with the parking lot cameras. We would also have to wear something over our faces until we do shut them off."

"Jay, honey, do we still have that old junker in the garage?"

"First of all, Betty is not a junker and secondly, yes."

"She's from the 80s hun. I think she's a junker at this point. Besides, we'll have to say goodbye to it."

"W-What?"

"Jay!", Zianna suddenly shouted to which her husband just nodded spewing out; "Whatever you say darling!"

"What's this Zianna?", Aphmau asked, pointing to the bottle.

"This...is what I got last night. Sorry that I lied to you all about that too but, I always planned to rescue that merman if things got too risky for them. I used it to give me my legs and it can also be used to reverse back. I just needed some extra,", Zianna explained.

"Where in the world did you get that?", Vylad suddenly shouted.

"A friend of mine. Hyria. You've met her Pea,", She giggled, smiling down at her son's shocked face.

"Hyria? As in the old lady who walks her bird down the boardwalk?"

"Yep!"

He groaned, falling back into the couch, rubbing his face. Katelyn rubbed his shoulder in a calming manner, genuinely feeling bad for the dude. The others were focused on the plan unfortunately.

"So, we'll sneak in and give Garroth this potion so he can easily walk out. No carrying necessary. Jay, dear, could you get some clothes for him when he does transform? If he's anything built like his father, he would fit better into your clothes than Pea's."

"Mom!"

"What? I just think he'll be taller than you. He can't be wearing jeans that fall above his ankle."

Vylad again, was in utter disbelief by what was going on as his mother once again, turned to Aphmau and said with a proud smile; "We're going to get him out of there. I know we will."

"Zianna...I-"

"Don't worry. I'll explain everything later. Right now, I'm going to be a good Mom...for the first time in a while."

Word Count: 1590